Thrifty Living: Water Bottled!

Buying bottled water on a regular basis? Yes? Stop and step away from the chilled drinks section! I'm here to tell you three good reasons why you shouldn't drink bottled water. Here goes...

1) Think about how much you spend each time you buy a bottle. I've been spending anything from 36p to £1.57 on a bottle of water, depending on where I am when I need one. Factor in a few bottles a week and it quickly adds up!

2) Every time you buy a bottle of water, you're buying a plastic bottle. A plastic bottle. What a waste! Although many of us have taken up recycling, the vast majority of people do not recycle effectively. This leads to environmental destruction, not to mention tragedy for many species of wildlife. For more information on this subject please take a look at 5 Gyres. It's certainly an eye-opener!

Source

3) Here's a shocking truth I was informed of recently: bottled water is bad for your health! Well, more specifically the plastic bottle is. The plastic contains a chemical element called antimony which leaches into the water from the plastic over time. So what? Well, in small doses, antimony can cause depression or an ill-feeling. But in high doses it can cause violent vomiting and even death. We are dealing with low doses here though people so don't panic! The concern is around the long expiration dates of bottled water; the longer the water stays in the bottle, the more antimony can leach into the water.

So, there you have it. Bottled water = bad news! So what now? I just purchased an aluminium water bottle. It saves me money, I'm not contributing to the plastic bottle phenomenon and no more antimony for me! Plus it's kinda sweet :)

My shiny new water bottle

Thrifty Living: Supermarket Success!

We're all facing tough economic times at the moment. The news is full of depressing financial stories and saving money is a hot topic. I figured it would do me good to learn a few economising skills and of course I'll share a few tips with you too!

• Get organised - work out your meal plans for the week in advance. Once this grisly task is done, you'll be able to sit back, relax with a glass of wine and fly through an online shop with elegance and grace (without the dazed aisle wandering).
• When making your list, remember to check your cupboard and see what you've already got in stock. This will save you from silly, unnecessary purchases (don't forget to check the use-by dates!).
• Stretch your leftovers - don't just bin them! My boyfriend once cooked a roast which could've fed a small army, tasty but far too much for the two of us. I threw all of the leftover vegetables into a pan with my favourite stock and boiled it all up to make a random but delicious soup. Get imaginative with your leftovers :)
• Don't be a snob when it comes to own-brand products. Don't say it too loudly but word is that they're basically the same product ;) Although I would only ever buy Kellogg's Cornflakes, I certainly don't mind choosing a 30p can of chopped tomatoes instead of the £1.36 version. See, I've already saved myself £1.06!
• Don't be blinded by bargains - A bargain is only a bargain if you were already planning to buy it in the first place!

And the golden rule is.... never EVER shop when you're hungry. Just don't even think about it! You'll only find yourself at the mercy of a sugar-lusting, comfort-seeking mentality. Nooooooooo!!!

Hannah xo